[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10240-S10243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans'
Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1669,
and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1669) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs
medical center in Jackson, Mississippi, as the ``G. V.
(Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center.''
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the bill?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am privileged to have introduced S. 1669,
along with Senator Thad Cochran, to name the VA medical center in
Jackson, MS, in honor of our friend and colleague, Representative Sonny
Montgomery. A companion bill, H.R. 3253, was introduced by
Representative Mike Parker, and it has already passed the House.
As many of you know, Congressman Montgomery is retiring at the end of
his current term after 30 illustrious years in the House. He has had a
distinguished career and served under seven Presidents. ``Mr.
Veteran,'' as many of us have affectionately called Sonny, led efforts
to obtain Cabinet-level status for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
He introduced and guided to passage a peacetime GI education bill which
provides incentives for both recruitment and retention of qualified
young men and women for the Armed Forces. This landmark legislation
bears his name as the Montgomery GI bill.
Congressman Montgomery has strongly championed the State Veterans
Affairs nursing homes. He has done yeoman's service for veterans as
chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and as a distinguished
member of the House National Security Committee. Veterans throughout
the Nation have benefited greatly from the outstanding resources
provided by VA facilities established and improved under Sonny's watch.
In particular, veterans from Mississippi, and neighboring States, are
well served by the Veterans Benefits Administration Southern Area
Office, the VA Regional Office, and two VA medical centers made
possible by the chairman's able hand.
The VA medical center in Jackson definitely needs an official name.
Others have distinguished names such as the Sam Rayburn VA, the Jerry
Pettis VA, and the James Haley Veterans Hospital. Unquestionably,
Representative Sonny Montgomery, Congress' ``Mr. Veteran,'' truly is
well-deserving of having the Jackson VA Medical Center named in his
honor.
It is very appropriate that this legislation comes before us now
because of several events that are occurring to pay tribute to Sonny.
Representative Montgomery is being honored this week by his colleagues
on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for his dedicated service.
Also, Mississippi State University, the chairman's alma mater, is
hosting a benefit dinner for him. Proceeds from this benefit will
establish the Sonny Montgomery Scholars Program at MSU. Furthermore,
House colleagues have made arrangements to plant a magnolia tree on the
southeast corner of the Capitol Grounds as a living testimony of
Sonny's many years of service and outstanding achievements.
Mr. President, Sonny is one of the most outstanding, revered, and
beloved Members of Congress. Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Alan
Simpson is a cosponsor of S. 1669, and strongly supports this measure.
I urge my colleagues to join with me in this fitting tribute to our
friend and colleague, Representative G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery.
[[Page S10241]]
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record
a ``Dear Colleague'' letter dated May 9, 1996.
There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
U.S. Senate,
Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC, May 9, 1996.
Dear Colleague: I am privileged to have recently introduced
S. 1669, along with Sen. Thad Cochran, to name the Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Jackson, MS, in honor
of our friend and colleague, Rep. G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery. A
companion bill has been introduced in the House.
As many of you know, Congressman Montgomery is retiring at
the end of his current term after 30 illustrious years in the
House. He has had a distinguished career and served under
seven presidents. ``Mr. Veteran'', as many of us have
affectionately called Sonny, lead efforts to obtain cabinet
level status for the VA. He introduced and guided to passage
a peacetime G.I. education bill which provides incentives for
both recruitment and retention of qualified young men and
women for the armed forces. This landmark legislation bears
his name as the Montgomery G.I. Bill.
Additionally, Congressman Montgomery has strongly supported
veterans programs such as the State Veterans Affairs Nursing
Homes. He has done yeoman's service for veterans as chairman
of the Veterans Affairs Committee and as a distinguished
member of the House National Security Committee. Veterans
throughout the Nation have benefited greatly from the
outstanding resources provided by VA facilities established
and improved under Sonny's watch. In particular, veterans
from Mississippi, and neighboring states, are well served by
the Veterans Benefits Administration Southern Area Office,
the VA Regional Office, and two VA Medical Centers made
possible by the chairman's able hand.
The VA Medical Center in Jackson needs an official name.
Others have distinguished names such as the Sam Rayburn VA,
the Jerry Pettis VA, and the James Haley Veterans Hospital.
Rep. Sonny Montgomery, Congress' ``Mr. Veteran'' truly is
well-deserving of having the Jackson VA Medical Center named
in his honor.
I would appreciate your joining me in support of S. 1669.
Please call Ney Williams of my staff at 224-4553 to
cosponsor. Thank you for your consideration, and with kind
regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Trent Lott.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague in
honoring our friend, the gentleman from Mississippi, Sonny Montgomery,
who is retiring from the House of Representatives at the end of this
Congress. We have joined in sponsoring this bill to name the VA medical
center in Jackson, MS, the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Throughout his career, as a senior
member of the House National Security Committee and as chairman of the
Veterans' Affairs Committee, Sonny has demonstrated genuine concern for
the health, education, and well-being of our Nation's veterans. He
firmly believes that we should treat veterans with dignity and
compassion, and he has worked hard as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs
Committee to enact programs and provide facilities to meet that
obligation.
Sonny's concern for and attention to the men and women of our Armed
Forces is firmly rooted in his own experiences, having served in the
Army and Army National Guard for a total of 38 years. Sonny served in
World War II and during the Korean War. As a dedicated member of the
Mississippi Army National Guard, he was promoted to the rank of major
general before his retirement in 1981.
Sonny's political career began as a member of the Mississippi State
Senate from Lauderdale County. He served with distinction for 10 years,
from 1956-1966. In 1966, he ran for and won the seat in Congress from
the Third District of Mississippi. Sonny has proven to be a very
capable, productive, and popular Representative. He was overwhelmingly
reelected each term since the 90th Congress.
During that 30-year period of service he has earned the reputation of
a champion of national defense and veterans' issues, and he often is
referred to by his colleagues as ``Mr. Veteran'' or ``Mr. National
Guard.''
When Sonny was elected to Congress in 1966, American soldiers were
fighting in the war in Vietnam. He demonstrated his concern for those
who were involved in that dangerous and deadly region by spending
Christmas each year in Vietnam with the soldiers.
On these trips, Sonny would carry blank cards with him and when he
ran into young soldiers from Mississippi, he would ask them to write
the names and addresses of their families on these cards. When Sonny
returned home he would take the time to call each soldier's family to
let them know that he had seen their son or daughter and relay any
stories or news that might interest them. Today, people still thank
Sonny for these phone calls.
In 1975 he was appointed chairman of the House Select Committee on
Missing Persons in Southeast Asia. In 1977, President Carter named him
to the Woodstock Commission, which traveled to Hanoi to investigate
further, those Americans missing in action. More recently, Sonny was a
member of the delegation that brought back the first returned remains
of United States personnel missing in North Korea during the Korean
war.
Sonny Montgomery stands as an example of a true patriot, and for this
he has been recognized by his colleagues many times. In 1984, the
Speaker of the House asked that he lead the House contingent to the
commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the D-day Invasion at
Normandy, a particularly appropriate designation because Sonny fought
in the European theater during this war. In 1988, when the reciting of
the Pledge of Allegiance was instituted as daily practice by the House
of Representatives, Sonny was asked by the Speaker to be the first
Member to lead this body in the Pledge.
Throughout our time together as members of our State's congressional
delegation, I have had the opportunity to observe Sonny in many
situations. A most recent instance was during the last round of base
closure and realignment. Two of the bases in his district were
considered for closure, one of which had been on the closure list in
two previous rounds. Sonny was most persuasive and successful in
convincing the Base Closure Commission that Naval Air Station Meridian
and Columbus Air Force Base are essential to the pilot training in both
of those services. Sonny was willing to do everything he could to keep
these bases open. Today, these bases remain open, largely due to the
efforts of Sonny Montgomery.
As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, now named
the National Security Committee, Sonny Montgomery has been a tremendous
influence on our national defense policy. He has consistently supported
the maintenance of a strong force.
Sonny was one of seven Democrats who in early 1994 paid a visit to
President Clinton to insist on increased defense spending by his
administration, particularly in the area of military pay, and to urge
him to reduce nondefense spending by the Department of Defense. Sonny
has always considered the protection of our freedom to be the highest
priority of our Government, and he has done his best to ensure our
national security.
Because of Sonny Montgomery, the National Guard and Reserves are
different services than they were 25 years ago. As a member of the
Mississippi Army National Guard Sonny saw untapped potential in the
Guard and Reserve forces, and as a senior member of the National
Security Committee, he has strengthened our reserve component forces in
significant ways. Over and over again, Sonny insisted that in order for
the Guard and Reserves to be truly ready reserve forces, they must have
first-line equipment, top facilities, and more serious training. As we
saw in the gulf war, our Guard and Reserves have now been transformed
into an essential component of our total forces. In addition, Sonny has
always emphasized the need to keep the missions of each Guard unit
relevant.
Recently, Sonny negotiated with officials at the Pentagon in order to
reassign the duties of a National Guard battalion in east Mississippi,
which might have been considered for closure. Instead, this battalion
will be the first Guard unit in the Nation to be equipped with and
train on the high-technology Avenger air defense system, a key weapon
in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Our active forces will be
better supported by contributions from National Guard units in the
future because of Sonny Montgomery.
Another high priority for him has been the recruitment and retention
of soldiers; and out of this concern came
[[Page S10242]]
the GI bill which bears his name. Sonny considers this legislation to
be his greatest accomplishment. Under the Montgomery GI bill, active
duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel are entitled to educational
assistance benefits which would enable them to pursue their educational
goals while serving our country. Since being passed into law in 1985,
approximately 2 million military personnel have participated in the
program, and over 550,000 have already attended schools with its
assistance. The Montgomery GI bill has significantly improved
recruiting efforts for all of the services, and it has provided much-
needed training to veterans and retirees preparing to enter the work
force.
In addition to protecting our national security, Sonny has
consistently sought proper recognition and benefits for veterans. In
the 100th Congress, Sonny fought to have the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs elevated to a Cabinet-level position. When Sonny saw a need to
improve the review of veterans' claims, he sponsored a bill to
establish the Court of Veterans' Appeals in order to ensure the
complete judicial review of each claim. Within a month, this bill was
signed into law, and right away veterans saw needed changes in the
claims process. Also, he has worked to streamline the services offered
at regional service centers and hospitals, aiming toward providing, in
effect, one-stop shopping for our veterans.
During the last Congress, Sonny authored legislation to extend
compensation to our most recent veterans, those who fought in the
Persian Gulf war. The Veterans' Persian Gulf War Benefits Act, now law,
requires the VA to give priority to veterans suffering from undiagnosed
illnesses after their service in the Persian Gulf region. The bill also
established new research and outreach programs to further the
identification of this disease. This legislation is just another
demonstration of his belief that we have a moral obligation to care for
and compensate those who have suffered disabling injuries during their
service to our country.
While in the Army and for his efforts in service to military
personnel and veterans of our country, Sonny has received many awards,
including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat
Infantry Badge, Army Commendation Medal, a Bronze Star for Valor, and
Mississippi Magnolia Cross Award, and the Harry S. Truman Award, which
is the highest award given by the National Guard Association of the
United States. In addition, he has been recognized by the American Red
Cross, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Reserve Officers Association
of the United States, and AMVETS of World War II. He is past president
of the Mississippi National Guard Association, and he remains an active
member of the American Legion and VFW Post 79 in Meridian, MS.
Veterans' organizations across the country are saddened to see Sonny
retire.
Above all of Sonny's legislative accomplishments, he must be
recognized and appreciated for his patience, congeniality, and
compassion. Having maintained so many friendships in both parties,
Sonny has often been called to be a mediator. He has been on good terms
with Republican and Democrat leaders in Congress and Presidents of both
parties throughout four decades, and his friendship with former
President Bush goes back to their days as freshmen in the House. His
peers regard him as a respected friend, who is wholly dedicated to his
purpose in office. A small example of his loyalty is evidenced by the
number of hours he has logged in the Speaker's chair, a duty many
consider drudgery, but something that Sonny has viewed as an
opportunity to serve his fellow Members.
I will miss his good counsel and true friendship. Mississippi's Third
District and the entire Nation will miss his strong leadership and
clear vision. Members like Sonny are rare, and his leaving signals the
end of an era for southern Democrats, and the House of Representatives
as well.
I am pleased to join my colleague, Senator Lott, in offering S. 1669,
a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
Jackson, MS, for Sonny Montgomery, and I urge all of my colleagues to
support the renaming of this facility.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, in reflecting on my own lifetime of
public service, I can think of no one whose sincere dedication to
veterans, combined with the ability to transform that dedication into a
concrete reality, exceeds that of my old and dear friend G.V. ``Sonny''
Montgomery.
We all know why the Montgomery GI bill carries Sonny Montgomery's
name. It's not just an honor, it is a clear depiction of reality. What
some Members of this body may not realize is that Sonny Montgomery's
interests and everlasting impact extend far beyond the veterans'
education benefit that carries his name.
There is no path down which a veteran may travel that hasn't been
scouted first and smoothed and improved by the Congressman from
Mississippi, Sonny Montgomery.
There is no benefit provided to our veterans by a grateful nation
that does not bear the imprint of the longtime chairman, and now
ranking minority member, of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Sonny Montgomery.
The rules of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs limit
proposals to name VA facilities to the names of individuals who are
deceased. As we consider the measure before us today, some may wonder
what has occurred to amend that standard.
If such a person were to exist, I could assume that they do not know
the stirring 30-year record of service and legislation written by Sonny
Montgomery. If such a question is raised, I will only say to the
inquirer that exceptional service calls for exceptional action and that
such an action also calls for an exception to the rule. This is such a
time. A rule that would prohibit application of the name G.V. Sonny
Montgomery to the VA Medical Center in Jackson, MS, is a rule begging
to be temporarily laid aside--in sheer gratitude from us all.
In fact, Sonny Montgomery is the dominant presence in the world of
veterans' affairs and the genial and generous shadow he casts extends
far beyond the boundaries of the State of Mississippi. An honor limited
only to his native State of Mississippi is an honor quite inadequate to
describe his full legacy.
In reflecting on the full and honest career and commitment of the
senior Congressman from Mississippi, I conclude that if honors truly
reflected accomplishment, we would likely have to name the whole
shooting match of the Department of Veterans Affairs after Sonny
Montgomery.
When Sonny Montgomery leaves us in the Congress and returns to his
beloved home as a private citizen he will leave behind an unmatched
legacy of unselfish commitment and service. He will leave behind shoes
that it would take a giant to fill. The only way that veterans may not
benefit in the future from the career of Sonny Montgomery will be if
the height of the bar he set is up there so high that those who follow
him may be discouraged by the fact that it will be so difficult to
equal, much less exceed, his remarkable record. Sonny Montgomery will
serve as an example to generations of all legislators to come. I am so
very proud to join in supporting legislation to recognize an example,
and a career, and a wonderful, never tiring, ever focused, lovely,
kind, incomparable man, by ensuring that the VA Medical Center in
Jackson, MS, will forever carry the name that his actions have made
synonymous with love of veterans: G.V. Sonny Montgomery.
I love him. He has saved my skin a time or two. He is my true friend.
God bless him.
I thank the Chair.
Mr. SHELBY. I ask unanimous consent the bill be deemed read a third
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and
that any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 1669) was deemed read for a third time and passed, as
follows:
S. 1669
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL
CENTER, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.
(a) Name.--The Department of Veterans Affairs medical
center in Jackson, Mississippi, shall be known and designated
as the ``G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center''. Any reference to such medical
center in any law,
[[Page S10243]]
regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the
United States shall be considered to be a reference to the
G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center.
(b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect at
noon on January 3, 1997.
____________________